The Challenger nameplate has been within the Dodge lineup for the reason that early Seventies. The most up-to-date third-generation mannequin went on sale in 2008 and launched {powerful} iterations like Scat Pack, Hellcat, Redeye, and plenty of extra to the lineup. Now, after 16 years, the Challenger isn’t any extra—at the very least the title is not.
With the arrival of the brand new Charger Daytona, Dodge is discontinuing the Challenger nameplate for the foreseeable future. A Dodge spokesperson advised us in an interview that there are “no future Challenger plans at this time.” While which may be disappointing for followers eager for a brand new Challenger, the Charger EV will technically take the place of the outgoing muscle automobile.
The Charger is available in two- and four-door configurations with basic trim choices like R/T and Scat Pack carrying over. An optionally available Track Pack is accessible on the latter. In phrases of measurement, the brand new Charger Daytona coupe is larger than the Challenger it replaces with a 121.0-inch wheelbase and a complete size of 206.5 inches, in comparison with the Challenger’s 116.0-inch wheelbase and 197.9-inch complete size. It’s additionally wider than the Challenger by 8.6 inches; 84.3 inches in comparison with 75.7.
That further measurement means extra passenger and cargo house for the EV; as much as 22.8 cubic toes of cargo behind the rear seats and 37.4 cubes with the rear seats folded flat. The Challenger had simply 16.2 cubic toes of house by comparability. And this new Charger is a liftback as a substitute of a conventional coupe.
While it could not have a V-8, the Charger Daytona will provide a Hurricane inline-six engine alongside the electrical powertrain. The 3.0-liter engine comes with a regular 420 horsepower and a more-powerful 550-hp model. That’s extra energy than the outgoing Challenger’s base V-8—however this engine will solely be accessible with an eight-speed computerized. No guide.
Regardless, whereas the Challenger title could also be gone from the Dodge lineup, it lives on in spirit within the new Charger Daytona.